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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Texican Christmas on the way!, October 17, 2008
The problem with almost every Christmas album is that you've heard the songs before, and you've probably got a favorite arrangement, and that may cause you to just listen to a new version without hearing it.
Get ready to have your favorite arrangements re-arranged!
Los Lonely Boys, with the assistance of some of their friends and children - and some mysterious singers aka The Elf Choir - deliver a wonderful musical Christmas package for us all! A special thanks to Michael Ramos and his keyboards, and both Rick and Mark Del Castillo for adding their guitar brilliance to this presentation!
Continuing the musical growth from Forgiven, you'll hear additional lyric development as well as some outrageously beautiful harmonizing.
8 old favorites, and 2 brand new songs - let's get started!
Comments in track list order:
I've Longed For Christmas. You will swear you've heard this song before - it feels so very classic - and so very beautiful. All songs are shared between the three brothers, but I think that Jojo wrote this, and certainly he takes lead, and his kids contribute a great full choir ending to the song.
She'll Be My Everything (For Christmas). Pure Henry. Imagine a 1950's slow rock tune - very dance-able - and you've got this song. Sweet with some really neat lyrics.
Run Run Rudolph. If the LLB organization does not turn this into a music video, all the fans should raise a ruckus. This one feels like Henry is channeling Chuck Berry with all the rambunctious fun of the early 1960s. Whoever organized the album did a great job backing this up against She'll Be My Everything.
Cancion de las Campanas (Carol of the Bells). Performed instrumentally, it feels so very right. Starting with an acoustic performance, smoothly moving to electric guitar and even including a drum solo from Ringo, you'll want to play this one again and again for its musical richness.
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer. Hooray! A bluesy twist on this song for sure!
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town. Oh yeah! A very solid rockin' version of this song. Santa Claus is comin', baby, well he's comin' to town! Also one that I'd love to see live.
Away In A Manger. Missed the smooth power of More Than Love? Give this one a listen, then. Totally suitable for an acapella performance at a show - something I'm really wishing for as we head into the 2008 holiday season and the shows between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Feliz Navidad. The story is that the original tracks were found and that the song is the same one we've had for years. But it feels so new! One of LLB's strengths is always the live performances; Manny Marroquin's elegant mixing skills give us a chance to rediscover an old song all over again.
Jingle Bells. WHO IS THAT VOICE? (smile) Ringo, well done. If you liked Texican Style's ending, you'll love the Elf Choir's background noise in this song as Jojo calls out someone who is not singing! Close your eyes and see him pointing with a great big smile on his face. And we get another kazoo solo! Just great fun!
Silent Night. The perfect ending for the album. If you've wished for a slow, semi-bluesy, terrifically sweet instrumental rendition of this song, stop wishing. Completely appropriate for use in a church service in my opinion. The boys seem completely engaged in making this song shine!
As a long time fan, I'm THRILLED to hear Henry get turned loose to play long passages, and I'm OVERJOYED that we've got some very clearly Spanish rhythms making it back into the music.
And, of course, not only family friendly, but with kids and friends assisting, a joy and a true pleasure to sit back and enjoy.
This is a wonderful album all the way around, and would be a great Christmas present! I'm betting that there are new fans made by hearing this album.
PS: If this cd becomes the success that it can be, then I'm nominating Please Come Home For Christmas for the second LLB Christmas album!
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
BACK WITH A BLUESY XMAS SPIRIT, November 2, 2008
This Xmas cd of LLB is so good, that I expect it to be on everybodies cd player, Ipod, and Xmas Stocking this Xmas.
The first two songs are originals and are just outstanding.(Don't let anybody tell you that these guys can't write)They are unbelievable on these two tracks.
The blues spin on some of these Xmas covers here is what I longed for from their last cd "Forgiven". This cd is the kind of music that they were doing on their debut cd and before that on "Live at Blue Cat Blues".
This is Texican Xmas spirit that everybody should own and play all throughout the Xmas season.....Heck I'm playing it now, I couldn't wait for Xmas and neither will you.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Tejano blues for Christmas, November 16, 2008
This ten CD collection features family friendly Christmas music with a bluesy Tex-Mex spirit. There are 8 classics with a lovely Latino twist and two new songs.
Their opener, "I've Longed For Christmas" sounds like an instant classic to me. It's got a great, positive beat and the typical Los Lonely Boys harmony.
"She'll Be my Everything" is the kind of Christmas song that's going to end up on every Christmas romance CD for many years.
Then, there are the traditionals played in a way you have not heard them before. My favorite is "Carol of the Bells" but "Run, Run Rudolph" is great, too. If you're tired of the same old thing, you need to check out this CD. Great stuff!
Rebecca Kyle, November 2008
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by Los Lonely Boys 
